Residents living in a quiet village have been left furious after a Turner
Prize-winning artist was given the go-ahead to build a "Disneyland"
gingerbread house.

Grayson Perry, a Turner prize-winning artist, unveiled the highly unusual fairytale plans for the home overlooking the River Stour estuary in the tiny Essex village of Wrabness.

The cross-dressing artist said the house, with its gold roof and green and white patterned walls, would tell the story of a mythical Essex woman called Julie and her difficult childhood, young love and career.

But the building, based in the heart of a designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, has left some in the village stunned at what they have likened to "something out of Disney Land".

Other objectors have said the home, which will be rented out "to introduce holidaymakers to the joys of avant-garde housing", looks like a "ginger bread Indian temple".

The parish council strongly objected to the proposal to knock down the existing farmhouse (above) and replace it with the new structure that combines sculptures, tapestries and ceramics.

Mr Perry himself admitted his initial design was carried out whilst "doodling wildly and quite drunkenly in from of the television".

However the plans have been given the go-ahead with the home set to be completed by 2014.

Mr Perry, who won the famous Turner Prize in 2003, said: "I have a deep fondness for Essex and I am happy to invest a large chunk of my time to a project I feel will add greatly to the cultural standing of the area.

"I wanted the building to reflect different aspects of the county, with its traditional side and with a hint of its more recent history.

"It is not a large structure and it does not seek to dominate its surroundings, but is to be discovered, with what I hope will be delight, by any of the many passers-by along the footpath."

Although there has been support for the scheme, many are concerned about the impact it will have on the peaceful, quiet village.

Resident Pauline Marsh said: "I think it is totally out of keeping with our beautiful estuary rather like Disneyland.

Eve Wilkson added: "Grayson Perry is a high-profile artist and this cannot be a good thing for this small Essex village, its occupants and the even-smaller track that leads to the property."

John Ager said: "I object again, as I did before, as it looks like a theme park and will spoil the area forever.

"Please see sense and reject this again - it is not all about a famous artist."

The original plans for the home were turned down by Tendring District Council earlier this year. But the re-submitted application for the wacky home was given the green-light by planners, with construction now due to start next year and work completed by 2014.

Mark Robinson, director of the applicants, Living Architecture, said: "This has been an idea of Grayson's for many years.

"We have had some great support from the local community and I think there are a lot of people who are excited by it."